Register for referendum vote before September 2

Voters over the age of 16 years will be going to the ballot boxes next month to cast their votes in the Scottish independence referendum.

If you want to be sure of having your say in the Scottish independence referendum on September 18, then you need to make sure you are registered to vote.

All electors need to be registered by midnight on Tuesday, September 2. If you are already on the electoral roll, you do not need to register again for the referendum.

You can register to vote in the referendum if you are 16 years old or over on September 18 and are: a British citizen living in Scotland; a European Union citizen living in Scotland; a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in Scotland.

It only takes a few minutes to register by downloading and completing the voter registration form wich you will find on the Scottish Borders Council website.

You can also check if you are registered to vote by calling the electoral registration officer on 01835 825100.

If you choose to vote at your local polling station, rather than a postal vote or a proxy vote (when someone is appointed to vote on your behalf) you will receive a poll card telling you where your polling station is. For new voters there is a virtual polling station video on the council website that talks you through the voting process.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm and counting of the votes cast in the Borders starts at 10pm in Springwood Hall, Kelso.